Interesting webpage on homicide

Posted by David Hardy · 8 July 2005 11:11 AM

Just was alerted (hat tip to Budd Schroeder) to a most interesting webpage on homicide rates. (It's not gun law driven, as it were -- apparently compiled by a researcher in the concept of life extension & cryonics, who figured that since neither does much good if a person is murdered, homicide was worth some detailed study.

The webpage breaks down homicide rates on an international, state, and city level, trends over time, especially hazardous occupations (taxicab driving is worst) and locations (liquor stores), etc. Of some interest to us:

The US doesn't make the top ten for homicide.
Among the ten safest countries are Switzerland, Israel, and Finland, where guns are common.
Worst city for murder is DC (rate 45.8). Philadelphia, which has had a push for gun control with claims the state controls are too loose, is no. 6 with under half DC's rate (19.0). Dallas is no. 10.
Ten safest cities are led by Honolulu (lots of gun control, followed by El Paso (very little gun control).
61% of US homicides are male kills male. Only 2.4% are female kills female.
Half or more of homcide victims were intoxicated at the time. Intoxication rates were highest in murder by drowning (presumably because that's not easy with a resisting victim).